Rogaine orginally was going to be marketed as a high blood pressure medication. When people testing it said they wanted to keep their leftover pills since their hair grew back, the drug makers said, "Screw the heart medication angle, let's do hair loss."

Another side note. Back in 2000-something, the makers of an African sleeping sickness drug threatened to stop making it since it was not making much money. The World Health Organization came up with a solution that benefited both the drugmaker and people afflicted with the disease. One of the side effects of the drug is hair loss, so they convinced the drug maker to sell it as a hair removal drug--Vaniqua.The alternative for seriously advanced cases is melarspromol, which is called "arsenic and antifreeze," as it basically is an arsenic compound that has to be dissolved in propylene glycol (antifreeze). It dissolves regular IV tubes so special ones have to be used. That drug almost was cut off, but thanks to Vaniqua, its safe.